Toilet flusher



J. A. GRAY TOILET FLUSHER April 21, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 22, 1957 wm. @l a A fw mw J. A. GRAY TOILET FLUSHER April 21, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 22, 1957 United States Patent U TOILET FLUSHER .lames A. Gray, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to Alessandra Gray, Rome, Italy Application October 22, 1957, Serial No. 691,617

8 Claims. (Cl. 4-41) This invention relates to flush mechanisms for toilets and more particularly to a flush mechanism which relies on line pressure for performing several functions in the normal operation of the flush mechanism.

An object of this invention is to provide a flush mechanism for a toilet, the mechanism being of the type which has a housing adapted to couple directly to the toilet inlet, and wherein there are concentric and movable sleeves serving valving functions and which enable a piston to be elevated by water pressure and this piston opening the flush tank valve by lifting it and at the same time lifting the overow tube that is connected directly to the valve. After the flushing cycle has commenced, water ows from the flush tank into the toilet bowl by having the bowl valve elevated. At the same time a piston is moved in the housing by main pressure until two of the concentric sleeves that were moved as a unit, become separated from each other, for example by releasing a latch therebetween. Then, one concentric sleeve is gravity low ered while the other which has the piston on it, is lowered gradually in accordance with the exhaust of liquid trapped beneath the piston. This lowering of the piston at a gradual rate will enable the ush tank to be recharged with liquid from the main water supply pipe, after which the piston closing permits the liush mech anism to reset for another cycle of operation.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a smoothly operative flushing device for a toilet wherein the various stages in a single cycle of operation are performed sequentially and all in response to the application of water pressure from the main supply line. A distinc tion is made between my invention and commercially available flush mechanisms in that mine operates much more smoothly and quieter than available equipment. Moreover, my flush mechanism has no oat, no soft bulbous valve and no small bearings that soon become worn and become unsatisfactorily operative. On the contrary, my valving takes place by reciprocatory movement only of the various parts that are arranged about a common axis in a toilet ush tank.

Other objects and important features will become apparent in following the description of the illustrated form of the invention.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a flush mechanism constructed in accordance with the invention, the mechanism shown in the starting position, that is, in the position wherein it is ready to be used.

Figure 2 is a transverse view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view somewhat similar to Figure 1 but showing the ush mechanism in an intermediate part of a single cycle of operation with the lower valve in the open position and the two movable concentric sleeves about to become released from each other enabling the inside sleeve to drop and the valve for the ush tank outlet to be closed.

Y2,882,533 Patented Apr. 21, 1959 Figure 5 is a sectional view taken at the same place as Figures l and 4 but snowing the valve for the ilush tank outlet in the closed position and showing the outer sleeve as it starts to lower during which time the ush tank is being filled to place the flush mechanism in preparedness for another cycle of operation.

In the accompanying drawings there is a flush mechanism 10 adapted to be disposed in a flush tank 12 that has an operating handle, button, lever 14 or the like connected therewith. The outlet 16 of the flush tank is fitted with a standard bushing 18 that holds valve seat 20 in place and in registry with the pipe 22 that conducts water into the toilet bowl (unshown). Member 24 closes the valve opening 16 when coming to bear against the rubber, plastic or composition seat 26. This seat may be of a harder material, as one of the metals, inasmuch as the selection of materials is dependent on a number of varying factors.

The ush mechanism has a housing 30 formed with sides or a cylindrical wall 32. A top wall 34 is threadedly attached to the upper extremity of the housing 30 or is otherwise held in place. The lower end of the housing has one or more water passages or ports 36 through which water is adapted to flow when going from the flush tank 12 into the pipe 22 or when going from the ush mechanism into the ush tank to recharge the same.

A water main supply line 4t) is operatively connected to the source of water under pressure. The pipe 40 is connected to valve bonnet 42 in which valve element 44 is movable. A valve stem 46 is connected to the valve element 44 and has an upper extremity provided With a head 48 located on the exterior of the bonnet 42. A part of the valve stem passes through a hole in the bonnet so that the head can be so located. The yhead 48 is adapted to be engaged by arm 49 of lever 14 so that the valve stem is elevated in response to movement in one direction of lever 14. This lifts the valve element 44 from its seat 50 that is formed at the upper end of sleeve 52. The sleeve is attached to the bonnet and is not movable. The lower end of the sleeve is threaded in a center threaded well S4 of part 20, and there is a passage 56 in the center of the well. There are a number of holes 58 in the part 20 to allow water to pass freely therethrough. Valve seat 60 is in the well 54 and has an opening in registry with passage 56. Apertured valve member 62 is threaded on the lower extremity of the valve stem 46 and is arranged to close the passage S6. The apertures in the valve element 62 are small enabling a small quantity of water to pass through them.

Concentric sleeves 68 and 70 are mounted on sleeve 52 and they are each movable with respect to the fixed sleeve 52. The outermost sleeve 70 has a piston 72 on it intermediate its lower and upper ends. The lower end of sleeve 70 has two or more pins 74 and 7S fixed to it and protruding radially toward the center line of the concentric sleeves. The pins 74 and 75 pass through elongated ports 76 and 77 in the fixed sleeve 54 and also through the elongated ports 78 and 79 in the inner sleeve 68. A pair of collars 81 and 82 are formed on the valve stem 46 and pins 74 and 7S terminate in the space between these collars. Therefore the pins establish a connection between the collars but this connection is of the lost motion type in view of the spacing of the collars 81 and 82.

The inner movable sleeve 68 has the ports 78 and 79 between its upper and lower ends with valve member 24 on the lower end of the inner sleeve. The function of this valve member has been described previously. Ports 86 and 87 are formed in the innermost sleeve 52 and in the inner sleeve 68, and there are vertically spaced ports 88 and 89 in the outer sleeve 70. The port 89 is shaped as a bore while the port S8 is elongated.

assaeee An overflow tube all is attached at its lower end to the valve member 2d and in registry with a hole in the valve member. The overflow tube is passed through an opening gli in the piston 72 and has a port 92 which is closed by the wall of the opening 9ll (Fig. l).

An ordinarily closed latch 93 operatively connects the two sleeves 68 and 79. The preferred form of latch is made of a dog that is pivoted to the outer sleeve 7d and it has a keeper in engagement with a flange 94 at the upper extremity of sleeve 63. The dog keeper engages with the flange so that the two sleeves move upwardly simultaneously. However, when the upper limit of the travel of the two sleeves is reached, the latch 93 engages cam 96 carried at the upper end of sleeve S2 and releases the latch so that the two sleeves are uncoupled from each other (Fig. 5).

The final structural item is a port 97 in the outer sleeve 70 located below the piston 72 and registering ports 7S and '76 with chamber lltitl which is delined by transverse partition lil?, in the housing 31j through which the outer sleeve 7i) is passed, the side wall 32 of the housing and the lower surface of piston 72. The chamber Ulli above piston 72 becomes larger and smaller in correspondence with the decrease and increase in the volume of the chamber since the piston 72 establishes a common wall for these chambers.

The operation of my iiush mechanism is as follows. The toilet flush mechanism is installed in the water closet with the lower end of the housing operatively connected with the drain pipe 22 at outlet i6. The water pipe itl which is adapted to connect to a source of water under pressure, as the city supply or a tank, is operatively connected with the valve bonnet 22. Starting with the flush mechanism as shown in Figure l which presupposes that the tank is lled to the proper level with water, the handle 14 is operated thereby lifting the valve stem 46 a distance sutiicicnt to admit water into the innermost stationary sleeve 52. Collars Si and S2 are spaced to permit the valve stem 46 to be elevated without operating any other parts of the mechanism. With valve i4-i opened water under pressure passes through portings '76, 78, and 97 and enters chamber ltltl. With water under pressure entering chamber lill, piston 72 must move in an upward direction. However the two concentric sleeves 70 and 68 are moved upward in unison thereby expanding chamber lil@ and causing the side wall of the inner concentric sleeve 63 to close port 86 (see Fig. 4). At the same time, the upward movement of the sleeve 7i) lifts valve 24 from its seat and allows the water in the ush tank to iiow through the ports 36 and into the outlet pipe 22 that is operatively connected with the toilet bowl. As sleeve 7@ is elevated, pins 74 and 75 raise the valve stern t6 to the uppermost position (Fig. 4), keeping the valve illopen during flushing and rell cycle. The time required to lift the piston 72 to the uppermost position (Fig. 4) is that necessary to drain the flush tank sufficiently for a proper flushing of the toilet.

The uppermost position of piston 72 is established by latch 93 striking cam 9e and releasing the innermost sleeve 68 that is movable on the outside surface of the stationary sleeve 52. When the latch 93 is released sleeve 68 is gravity lowered bringing valve 24 that is connected to it, to the valve closing position. The ports 78 and 79 are thereby uncovered to permit water from sleeve 52 to rush through ports 36 and refill the iiush tank. Further scavenging of chamber ldd is prevented when the upper portion or sleeve 6d withdraws into sleeve At the same time portings 235, S7 and 38 become alined and the port in overflow tube 9d is opened enabling water in chamber Siti@ to be squeezed through the port 92 and into the overflow tube 9i) and enabling water under pressure to enter the chamber ldd (through ports 86, 87 and 3S), thereby forcibly returning the outer sleeve 70. The downward movement of sleeve 7i? and piston 72 is timed by the size of port 92 to permit complete rell of the tank. inasmuch as the valve stern 46 is held in the elevated position by pins 74 and 75 and these pins return with the outer sleeve 70, the valve stem 46 will be returned to the valve closing position as shown in Figure 1. A small quantity of water can pass through passage S6 and into pipe 22 during the rell phase of the cycle.

In the flushing of the average toilet, the inertia of water rushing into the bowl greatly lowers the level of the `water in the bowl when the bowl valve suddenly closes and chops olf the flow of water from the tank. In the average toilet, this level is restored by the flow of water into the overflow tube from a small tube from the iioatoperated shut-oilr valve. ln my device, this operation is eiected by the valve member 62 aperture 56 combination.

It is understood that various changes and modiiications may be made without departing from the invention. Accordingly, modifications as fall within the scope of the following claims may be resorted to.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is as follows:

l. A flush mechanism comprising a housing adapted to connect to the outlet of a ilush tank while the mechanism is in the iiush tank, an innermost sleeve in said housing and adapted to connect to the source of water under pressure, a valve in said innermost sleeve and including a valve stem, an outermost sleeve, a piston on said outermost sleeve and movable in said housing, said piston separating said housing into a first and a second water pressure chamber, means mechanically connectrng said valve stem to said outer sleeve to hold said valve open in response to movement of said sleeve in one direction, an intermediate sleeve located between the innermost and the outer sleeve and movable with respect to the innermost and outer sleeve, means releasably latchlng said outer and intermediate sleeves together, said sleeves having ports which are in alinement with each other when said valve is opened thereby admitting water under pressure to the rst of said chambers and moving said outer and intermediate sleeves, a ilush tank valve connected with said intermediate sleeve and normally closed, said flush tank valve opened in response to movement orf said intermediate and outer sleeves caused by the expansion of said iirst chamber thereby admitting water from the flush tank into the toilet bowl.

2. A flush mechanism comprising a housing adapted to connect to the outlet of a liush tank while the mechanlsm is in the ilush tank, an innermost sleeve in said houslng and adapted to connect to the source of water under pressure, a valve in said innermost sleeve and including a valve stem, an outermost sleeve, a piston on said outermost sleeve and movable in said housing, said piston separating said housing into a lirst and a second water pressure chamber, means mechanically connecting said valve stem to said outer sleeve to hold said valve open in response to movement of said sleeve in one direction, an intermediate sleeve located between the innermost and the outer sleeve and movable with respect to the innermost and outer sleeve, means releasably latching said outer and intermediate sleeves together, said sleeves having ports which are in alinement with each other when said valve is opened thereby admitting water under pressure to the lirst of said chambers and moving said outer and intermediate sleeves, a flush tank valve connected with said intermediate sleeve and normally closed, said flush tank valve opened in response to movement of said intermediate and outer sleeves caused by the expansion of said rst chamber thereby admitting water from the tiush tank into the toilet bowl, mechanical means for releasing the means which connects said intermediate and outer sleeves when said intermediate and outer sleeves move in unison to the limit of their travel after which said intermediate sleeve is lowered thereby closlng at least one of the ports which connect with said first chamber, said sleeves having ports which intercommunicate the inner sleeve with said second chamber when said at least one of said ports is closed thereby directing water under pressure into said second chamber to thereby refill the second chamber and force said piston to its rest position while water under pressure flows through said innermost sleeve, and said housing having a port adapted to align with the first mentioned ports so that water can rush from the innermost sleeve into the tliush tank to refill the latter.

3. The liush mechanism of claim 2, wherein there is an overflow pipe connected with the valve on said intermediate sleeve, said overllow pipe having a port which is movable with said overflow pipe, said piston closing the port in said overflow pipe when the valve on said intermediate sleeve is in the valve closing position and the port in said overow pipe being open to said first chamber when liquid under pressure is being applied to said second chamber in order to return said piston and outermost sleeve.

4. The combination of claim 3, wherein said means connecting said stem to said outer sleeve include a lost motion connection structure so that said valve stem is capable of being moved a limited distance without transmitting motion to said outermost sleeve.

5. In a ilush mechanism for a toilet, the combination of an innermost sleeve which is adapted to connect to a source of water under pressure, an intermediate sleeve movable on said innermost sleeve, and an outer sleeve movable on said intermediate sleeve, a housing enclosing said sleeves, a piston on said outermost sleeve and movable in said housing, said piston separating said housing into a lirst and second water pressure chamber, a valve that has a valve stem and a valve member and which is in said innermost sleeve to control the admission of water under pressure from the supply, means including ports in said sleeves for admitting water under pressure from said innermost sleeve to said first chamber in response to opening of said valve and thereby moving said piston and said outermost sleeve, a latch coupling said outermost and intermediate sleeves so that said outermost and intermediate sleeves move together in unison, and a ush tank valve element connected to said intermediate sleeve which is opened in response to movement of said intermediate and outer sleeves.

6. In a flush mechanism for a toilet, the combination of an innermost sleeve which is adapted to connect to a source of water under pressure, an intermediate sleeve movable on said innermost sleeve, and an outer sleeve movable on said intermediate sleeve, a housing enclosing said sleeves, a piston on said outermost sleeve and movable in said housing, said piston separating said housing into a lirst and second water pressure chamber, a valve that has a valve stem and a valve member and which is in said innermost sleeve to control the admission of water under pressure from the supply, means including ports in said sleeves for admitting water under pressure from said innermost sleeve to said first chamber in response to opening of said valve and thereby moving said piston and said outermost sleeve, a latch coupling said outermost and intermediate sleeves so that said outermost and intermediate sleeves move together in unison, and a ush tank valve element connected to said intermediate sleeve which is opened in response to movement of said intermediate and outer sleeves, mechanical means .for releasing said latch when said outer and intermedlate sleeves have moved to open said valve element, and means including ports in said sleeves for applying water under pressure into said second chamber when said intermediate sleeve is moved with respect to the outer sleeve and thereby moving said piston and said outer sleeve to the rest position while at the same time said valve element moves to the flush tank closing position in response to the return of said intermediate sleeve, said housing and sleeves having flush tank refill ports which are alined when said valve element is closed and said second chamber is being reiilled so that water may Ifiow from the innermost sleeve into the flush tank for refilling the ush tank.

7. In a flush mechanism for a toilet, the combination of an innermost sleeve which is adapted to connect to a source of water under pressure, an intermediate sleeve movable on said innermost sleeve, and an outer sleeve movable on said intermediate sleeve, a housing enclosing said sleeves, a piston on said outermost sleeve and movable in said housing, said piston separating said housing into a first and second water pressure chamber, a valve that has a valve stem and a valve member and which is in said innermost sleeve to control the admission of water under pressure from the supply, means including ports in said sleeves for admitting water under pressure from said innermost sleeve to said rst chamber in response to opening of said val-ve and thereby moving said piston and said outermost sleeve, a latch coupling said outermost and intermediate sleeves so that said outermost and intermediate sleeves move together in unison, and a flush tank valve element connected to said intermediate sleeve which is opened in response to movement of said intermediate and outer sleeves, mechanical means for releasing said latch when said outer and intermediate sleeves have moved to open said valve element, and means including ports in said sleeves for applying water under pressure into said second chamber when said intermediate sleeve is moved with respect to the outer sleeve and thereby moving said piston and said outer sleeve to the rest position while at the same time said valve element moves to the flush tank closing position in response to the return of said intermediate sleeve, additional means in said housing for venting said lirst chamber when water under pressure is applied to said second chamber, and mechanical means connecting said valve stem to said outer sleeve to return the first mentioned valve to the closed position when said outer sleeve is returned to its initial position, said housing and sleeves having ush tank reill ports which are alined when said valve element -is closed and said second chamber is being refilled so that water may iiow from the innermost sleeve into the flush tank for refilling the flush tank.

8. The ush mechanism of claim 7, wherein there are means closing the lower end of said innermost sleeve and an aperture therein, a valve member on said valve stem and arranged to open and close said aperture to admit water from said innermost tube to the toilet bowl in order that the proper water level in the bowl may be restored after flushing.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 410,541 Dillon Sept. 3, 1889 531,212 OConnor et al. Dec. 18, 1894 1,220,856 Keating Mar. 27, 1917 1,831,831 Wilson et al. Nov. 17, 1931 2,341,116 Owens Feb. 8, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS 447,056 Great Britain May 6, 1936 

